The Federal Government of Nigeria on Thursday, December 2, 2021, launched the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Process project, which aims to strengthen the capacity of the government at all levels to implement a NAP process including planning and budgeting for adaptation.
The three-year project, tagged “Strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to advance the NAP process”, is funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) while the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) serves as the Delivery Partner.
The NAP project, which was based strongly on the National Adaptation Strategy and Plan of Action on Climate Change in Nigeria (NASPAN-CCN) prepared in 2011 with a focus on 13 thematic areas to be implemented in all states in the country, was approved by the GCF in 2019.
Environmment Minister of State, Chief Mrs. Sharon Ikeazor, in her keynote address to formally launch the project in the nation’s capital, Abuja, said the Nigeria GCF Readiness project would assist the country to reduce vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, by building the adaptive capacity and resilience of the nation.
Ikeazor, who was represented by the Director, Department of Climate Change, Mrs. Iniobong Abiola-Awe, stressed that it would also facilitate the integration of climate change adaptation, in a coherent manner, into relevant new and existing policies, programmes and activities, in particular development of planning processes and strategies, within all relevant sectors and at different levels, as appropriate.
The Minister went further: “It is expected that the Nigeria’s NAP, NAP Framework and other adaptation initiatives would help the vulnerable groups better adapt to the impacts of climate change, with minimal loss of livelihoods, ecosystem and biodiversity. There must be a shift away from the ‘Business-as-Usual (BAU)’ way of doing things which will only lead to increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and more severe climate impacts.
“As Nigeria joins the rest of the world in towing the path of renewable energy and energy efficiency sources as well as low carbon pathways towards sustainable development and ‘green economy’, it is also important that we cater for the vulnerable groups to ensure the continuity of life. Adaptation is the way to go.”
Chief Ikeazor emphasised that one of the goals of the recently concluded COP26 held in Glasgow, United Kingdom, was adaptation to climate change.
“The country actively participated in all proceedings at the event where His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR made a commitment, on behalf of Nigeria, to net zero emission by the year 2060. In the same vein, he appended his signature to the Act establishing the National Council on Climate Change in Nigeria on November 18. The Council will further strengthen the country’s efforts at addressing climate change.”
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Hassan Musa, an engineer, represented by Head, Vulnerability and Adaptation Division, Department of Climate Change, Mrs. Halima Bawa-Bwari, in his welcome remark, said the purpose of the gathering was to introduce the NAP to stakeholders and intimate them of their roles. He informed the gathering that their contributions would go a long way in ensuring the delivery of a well-rounded and balanced NAP for Nigeria.
Musa commended the GCF and UNEP for the support as well as the management of the Ministry and staff of the Department of Climate Change (DCC) for providing an enabling environment to carry out the event.
In 2010 at COP16 in Mexico, Parties adopted the Cancun Adaptation Framework (CAF) which requested countries to formulate and implement NAPs as a means of identifying medium- to long-term adaptation needs.
As a follow up to the decision, in Paris in 2015, the GCF was requested to expedite support for the formulation of NAPs and the implementation of programmes, projects and policies identified in the NAPs in developing country Parties.
Through the GCF Board decision B.13/09, paragraph (e), the GCF provides financial support for the formulation of NAPs through its Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme.
The Federal Government of Nigeria through the Ministry of Environment in 2016 submitted a proposal for the Readiness and Preparatory project.
The hybrid inception workshop was attended by members of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Climate Change (ICCC), legislators, the academia, non-governmental organisations, private sector, media as well as UN bodies.
